The Joy of Books. I don't know if this has been shared here, but it doesn't matter. It's all about books. And I don't think we can never get too tired to watch this over and over again. At least I can't! :)

The first book you read in a year is an important decision for this bookworm. I feel it sets the mood for my entire reading year. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Swedish author Katarina Bivald is the first book I’ve read on 2016. I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect title to start my reading year. It was all that I expected it to be. It didn’t disappoint me and it left me with a smile on my face. It left me feeling like it’s going to be a good reading year.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a book I chose to read because of its cover, title and description. More about this on the full review on my blog

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is the story about Broken Wheel, an almost abandoned town in Iowa and how the power of books can transform a society.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is also the story of Amy and Sara. Amy, an elderly resident of the town of Broken Wheel, Iowa, and Sarah, a young woman from Sweden, are pen pals that form a lovely friendship through handwritten letters and exchanging books. After two years of correspondence, Amy invites Sara to visit her so they can finally meet in person. However, when Sara arrives, she finds out her beloved friend is dead but is quickly adopted by the people and the town of Broken Wheel. Sara’s arrival to Broken Wheel is not inconsequential; as it brings the little almost dead town and its people back to life.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a book for bookish people. Whether you call yourself a bookworm, book lover, avid reader, etc., this book is full of references, quotes and bookish facts and humor that you will highlight and keep in your bookish heart forever. SPOILER ALERT, I must say the book has a lot of references to other books, which will be spoiled for you if you haven’t read them!

It also poses a lot of bookish questions and interesting answers for them. Questions like: are people better than books? If you were a book character would you be a main one or a minor one? Do you judge books or people without knowing them? Have you ever smelled a book? (Tell me you pictured Rory smelling a book after reading that question!) And a lot more interesting questions of the sort that will leave your bookish mind thinking of your answers to them.

If you’re looking for a book about how books can transform lives, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a book about friendship, family, and love, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a book with romantic love stories and adorable heartwarming stories about small-town people, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a story about a little town and how everyone in town comes together for common good, this is the book for you. If you are a bookworm, this is the book for you.

The following is one of my favorite quotes from this book:

There’s always a person for every book. And a book for every person.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend has it all and like the quote above says, it is a book for every person. I’m glad I read it.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links

The Christmas Train is the story of Anna and Eva. Anna is a sweet little 10-year-old girl who lives with Nana Rose, her grandmother. After the inevitably sad death of Nana Rose, her mother decides she can’t take care of Anna and sends her to live with her dad in Iowa; a man Anna has never met. It is on her journey on “the Christmas train” that Anna meets Miss Eva, an older woman who thinks she’s on a train to her villa in Germany in pre-World War II. Having had such a close relationship with her grandmother, Anna sees a little of her grandmother in Miss Eva and so we follow them as their lives become intertwined in a friendship that will melt your heart and give you all the feels.

This is a feel good story, with lovable characters and a warm positive message. It’s impossible not to fall for Anna. She’s this adorable 10 year old that thinks and behaves like a grown up. Miss Eva, even though she’s the grown up that acts like a lost 10 year old, you can’t not fall for her in her time of need. As a family member of someone who is struggling with senile dementia, it was impossible not to feel compassion for Miss Eva.

My favorite character is Nana Rose. You gotta love Nana Rose! Find out what I loved about her in the full review on my blog.

If you’re looking for a short and cozy Christmas story to read curled up in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa with marshmallows and candy canes, this is the book for you. If you are traveling during this Christmas season and you need reading material, this is the book for you and your journey. It will warm your heart, make your trip more cozy but most importantly it will make you want to be aware of the people travelling with you. Who knows, maybe you will meet your “Anna” or your “Miss Eva” on your Christmas bus, plane or train. If you do, you will be blessed.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links

Dreaming Spies is the first book from author Laurie R King that I read. I’d been meaning to read Mary Russell’s adventures for a while, so when I saw this book and its praise as a novel of suspense, blackmail, fraud, conspiracy and espionage that included the wonderful Sherlock Holmes, I knew I had to read it. I also knew this wasn’t going to be a full Homes mystery, but I was excited to read how this dynamic duo behaved together.

Dreaming Spies is divided into 3 parts. It starts in Sussex and Oxford, then we take a trip from India to Japan where we stay for part 2 of the book and then we’re back to Oxford where it all ties up. In all honesty I think Book 1 could’ve been edited because nothing exciting happened. Book 2 was better than the first, more action and drama, but my favorite part was book 3, which is when we finally see the mystery unfold.

My problems with this book:1.I had a hard time getting into the story.2.It moved to lowly for my taste.3.Too many redundant and endless descriptions that make you feel blasé.4.The book focuses too much on the description and leaves the mystery to be solved and the interaction between Russell and Holmes in a second place. (more about this on the full review on my blog.)

What I take from this book:1. The Haikus at the beginning of each chapter.2. The Holmes-Russell duo action. 3. Everything tied up well in the end. (more about this on the full review on my blog.)

Having read Dreaming Spies, I don’t feel motivated to check out the other books in this series. So in terms of recommending it, I guess I can say that if you’re looking for an action packed, fast-paced, exciting mystery featuring Holmes and Russell, this is not the book for you. If you want to earn extensive knowledge of what it was like to travel by sea from India to Japan in the 1920’s, this is the book for you. If you want to learn about Japan, the Japanese culture, and ninjas, this is the book for you. And of course, if you are a fan of Laurie R King and her Mary Russell series, this is the book for you.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links.

Do you remember that line from Titanic, “A woman’s heart is a deep ocean of secrets.” A Small Indiscretion is a book that makes you dive into Annie’s ocean of secrets. It is the story of Annie, a 40-something year-old woman who lives you could say an uneventful normal family life and has it all, a loving husband (Jonathan), and three children: Robbie, Polly, and Clara, as well as a successful career. But you know what the say: no family is perfect. Annie’s life gets suddenly disrupted when a secret from her youth comes back to haunt her. And if that wasn’t enough to handle her son Robbie has an accident that leaves him in a comma. Needless to say, the life of her family is altered and forever changed.

The premise is a good premise that calls for an emotional family drama. Even though I liked the story, I had trouble with the way the author chose to tell it. I didn’t enjoy the constant time jumps. I’ve enjoyed other books that use this format of having the reader go from past to present and vice versa. But I didn’t thoroughly enjoy it with this book.

The book is divided into two parts. Part one didn’t do it for me. Instead of building up the conflict and making me feel totally engaged, it felt endless, boring and confusing. More about this on the full review on my blog. Part two was better than part one. In the end I was glad it all worked out, although without spoiling it for you, I felt like it would’ve been nice to know what happened when Annie met Robbie in detail, instead of leaving the reader to imagine it.

A Small Indiscretion is a likeable story. Even though I couldn’t relate to the characters or the “conflict”, I never felt like I wanted to DNF the book. On the contrary, despite the confusion from the first part, by the second part, I found myself wanting to know how the story ended.

I don’t usually feel age affects the reading experience but with this book and how I couldn’t relate to the story that much, I feel like I would recommend it to anyone who is in Annie’s age group or who can identify with the stage in her life somehow.

If you’re into stories about family secrets that are unexpectedly unveiled and how they affect everyone involved, this is the book for you. Book clubs might enjoy this story. I can see discussions about marriage, handling conflicts, infidelity, unexpected pregnancies and their effects, the impulsiveness of youth and its effect in your adult years, separation and its effects on children, etc., arise from this book.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links

I chose to read this book because of the author, the book cover, the title and the description. It was an all in one for me.

The Witch of Painted Sorrows is the story of Sandrine Salomé, a woman who decides to escape her unhappy marriage in New York to find shelter at her grandmother’s house in Paris. Her grandmother is a famous Parisian courtesan, who has accumulated innumerable treasures in her house. When Sandrine arrives, she finds herself homeless, as her grandmother had moved out of the house in hopes of turning it into a museum. Her grandmother doesn’t want Sandrine near the house. There is something about the house, Sandrine can’t let go of it, she manages to inhabit the house and along with Julien Duplessi, the architect in charge of the museum project, she embarks in a life changing journey of discovery, not only of the dark mysteries of her family’s past hidden inside the house but also a journey that will lead her to discover her passion for art and her own sensuality.

The Witch of Painted Sorrows is a delight for the senses. The setting is described in such a way that it is impossible not to feel like you are right there, inside that house, exploring the hidden room, mixing the pigments, creating the paintings, walking through the Parisian streets, or living the bohemian life in Paris in 1890.

And the provocative romance, it is impossible not to feel seduced by it. It is I must say a book for adults. I wouldn’t recommend it for YA nor the advanced YA readers. Not that kids today aren’t reading about sex, but I wouldn’t want to give kids the idea that adultery is enchanting. The sensual content in this book is more likely to be enjoyed by adults.

The Witch of Painted Sorrows is a story that gets sexier and darker with every page you read. Reading it feels like touching velvet. It is a bewitching story. I couldn’t put this book down. I was so into the story that when I finished it, it left me hungry for more. I wanted to keep reading; I wanted to stay in that magical world for a while longer. And this abrupt ending is the main reason it didn’t get 5 stars in my rating.

Nevertheless, this book confirmed that I am a fan of MJ Rose. I can’t wait to read more of her work. If you’re looking for a book with an exquisite blend of history, romance, eroticism, magic, witchcraft, paranormal, mystery, and art, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a book that will make you travel back in time to the bohemian life of the Belle Époque in Paris, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a hypnotic story filled with passion, mystique and drama, this is the book for you.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links

I was in the mood for fantasy. I read this book’s synopsis and it seemed like one of those fantasy quest stories. The cover also made it look that way. It’s not the best cover in the world but I can imagine a fantastic story from the symbols and images on it.

When I added this one on my Goodreads account, I saw the reviews and the outlook didn’t look good. Regardless I decided to give it a try.

Seeker is the story of Quin, John and Shinobu, three teens in Scotland who are training to be “Seekers”. They’ve worked hard and have dreamt all their lives for the day they finally “graduate” their training and join the Seekers. John is not allowed to take his oath as Seeker, only Quin and Shinobu make it. It is after they take the oath as Seekers that they discover the dark secrets that come with the “job”. Quin is not happy about this and feels she needs to make things right. This leads her to a series of events that put her life at risk, take her to Hong Kong and to a parallel world that makes this story a wild ride.

I had several problems with this book. I'll list them here, I explain more on the full review on my blog.

1. Seeker is an easy and hard read at the same time.

2. The world building is not great. First you think you are in the Scottish farmlands, you feel like in a medieval setting but suddenly sci fi cars appear, and then the fantasy stuff happens, and then you are in Hong Kong but then you go through some sort of portals that take you to dark worlds.

3. My other problem is that you never know what a Seeker really is.

4. There is a teenage love triangle in the midst of all this madness, but I couldn’t really care much about the love story.

I finished reading this because I don’t like to have DNFs. I don’t plan to read any sequels of this. I see why there are so many bad reviews. Seeker is not your average alternate world’s story. I gave it two stars because I was feeling generous.

There’s nothing wrong about adults reading YA, but having read this I can say that this is a book that can’t cross the border into adult’s bookshelves. I really don’t know who I could recommend this book to. I’m going to go with: If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy YA story that keeps you figuring out what and why from start to finish, this is the story for you.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links

The Glittering World was a book that I chose to read solely for the cover. Yes, it was pure cover love for me. I then read the blurb and for some reason I thought it has going to be a dark fairy tale. I was in the mood for some adult fantasy, so I had to check it out.

The Glittering World is the story of 4 friends, Blue, Elisa, Jason and Gabe, who travel from New York to Cape Breton to sell a house that Blue inherited from his grandmother. What they thought was going to be a cool road trip between friends turns out to be the you could say trip of their life time. Shortly after arriving to the house and getting acquainted with the locals, Blue remembers secrets from his past that help him discover who and what he really is. Dun dun dun! The trip then gets complicated after Blue and Elisa mysteriously disappear. Jason and Gabe are left with the mission to find them. As they search for them, the mysteries that lay behind below an abandoned artists’ colony are unveiled.

After reading the first two chapters I was hooked and intrigued. Blue seemed like a tortured soul. The introduction to his character and his woes was good. I didn’t understand why this was so important because I wanted the fairies or whatever strange creatures this book was going to be about to pop up. I was anxious for fantasy.

I kept reading and it got weird but in good way. The author had me with the creepy dark luminous fairies. As the story progressed it got creepier and darker. The plot is divided into 4 parts. Each part is narrated by one of the four main characters, starting with Blue, then Jason, followed by Elisa and it ends with Gabe. Since part two I was dying to know Gabe’s side of the story. I thought it had to be creepy weird, and I wasn’t wrong.

The Glittering World was a confusingly addictive adult read. It is an utterly wild ride. Strange, gross at times and different from everything I’ve read. It is a fast paced read that you can’t put down. I would describe it like a maze, once you get in on one side, you can’t go back. You just have to keep going until the end. You might get disoriented and or lost inside it, but once you start it, you can’t stop until you get out of it.

I liked this book and gave it 3 stars. I didn’t give it a higher rating for the reasons I state in the full review on my blog.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links.

The Garden of Unfortunate Souls is American author Eddie Mark’s debut novel. It is a dark story about Shadrack and Audwin, two African American boys, who grew up in opposite ends of society in Buffalo, NY in the 80’s. One of them grew up in an environment that you could say gave him everything he needed to make it in life. The other grew up in an environment that made the act of surviving life a real quest. Despite their opposite backgrounds, they share a common ground, which is that they both face from a young age: neglect, violence and all sort of negative situations that mold them and make them become the men they do in the end.

I must say that this is not a sweet coming of age story. It is a serious and obscure story for adults. It deals with religion, crime, corruption, violence, mental illness, sibling rivalry, rape, drugs, and all sorts of abuse: physical, emotional, verbal, economical, domestic, sexual, etc.

Despite the somber topics this story touches, it is written in a way that keeps you wanting to read the story until the end.

If you’re looking for a feel good fuzzy wuzzy coming of age story, this is not the book for you. If you’re looking for a story that takes you into the minds of deeply troubled people and follow them as they overcome or not their life’s tribulations, this is the book for you. If your book club is looking for a book that will generate deep and serious discussions on the effect of religion, neighborhood or surroundings and parenting, this is the book for you.

The Garden of Unfortunate Souls is a timeless and current story. It is set in the 80’s but as sad as it sounds, it is a story that could be happening in our times regardless of race, creed or gender. It is a book about fortune; it will make you ponder on it. Good or bad fortune, does it matter?

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links as stated in my disclosure policy.

Within These Walls is the recollection of “unusual” events that took place in two different time periods in a house located in 101 Montlake Road in Pier Pointe, Washington. The house is owned by Jeffrey Halcomb, a cult leader on death row for the death of 10 of his followers back in 1983. Halcomb has decided to give crime writer Lucas Graham exclusive interviews because he wants Graham to write his side of the story. But there is one catch: Lucas (Lou) must move into his house on Pier Pointe.

Lou is not going through a high point in his life, his wife is having an affair and his writing career desperately needs a comeback. He naively figures he’s got nothing to lose, takes the deal and moves into the infamous house with his 12 year old daughter, Virginia. The house welcomes its new inhabitants and without losing time finds the way to reveal to them the secrets she’s kept within her walls.

Aside from Lou and Virginia’s story line, we also read about Audra Snow, a congressman’s daughter who lived with Halcomb back in 1983, and was a victim of the mass murder that took place inside the house.

I couldn’t put this book down. I stayed up all night reading it and finished it at 5:30 AM. I really enjoyed how the story slowly pulled me in. It was creepy scary from the get go, and it got creepier as I kept reading. The author does a good job in blending the two storylines; the jumps between the different time periods are well executed and you never feel lost. The secrets are revealed not all at once but in a very addictive rhythm that keeps you turning the pages.

I don’t usually like to do comparisons but if I had to describe this book in that way, I would say that this book is pop culture’s Age of Aquarius meets The Sixth Sense (did you just hear “I see dead people” in your mind?). It has everything you can expect in an adult frightening read: mass murder, cults, orgies, ghosts, mystery, horror, thrills, love, grief, etc.

If you’re in the mood for a fast paced mix of paranormal, horror, mystery, suspense and psychological thrills all in one, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a book to add to you Halloween TBR, this is the book for you. I’m looking forward to reading more of Ania Ahlborn‘s creepy horrific work.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links.

Martha Stewart’s Appetizers is a wonderful and priceless addition to my bookshelf. Starting with the fabulous cover and back cover photographs, they are absolutely perfect for this book. The appetizers in those photographs are mouthwatering and definitely make you want to open the book and read it. The orange spine cover is perfect for any bookshelf. You won’t miss the title of the book on your shelf.

This book has it all: a Foreword by Living’s royal highness Martha Stewart of course, her 10 GOLDEN rules for Hosting a party, her tips and strategies for party planning and for the basic serving essentials you should have to make your appetizers look spectacular, 200 recipes for Snacks, Starters, Small Plates, Stylish Bites and Sips plus a final chapter with Basic Recipes and Techniques for roasting, toasting, blanching, peeling, and other essential skills.

Like Martha says, the recipes in this book “reflect the new casualness we are witnessing in home entertaining” today. All the recipes are doable and don’t require professional or specific equipment. Anyone with basic cooking skills can read and follow these recipes. To give you an idea, the recipes include spiced or roasted nuts, seasoned popcorn, homemade crackers, salsas, dips, antipastos, spreads, skewers, rolls, sliders, pizzas, chicken wings, mac-and-cheese bites, deviled eggs, mini-quiches, canapés, ceviches, latkes and many more.

All the recipes, I repeat, all the recipes in this book are illustrated by stunning photographs by David Malosh, Marcus Nilsson, and Burcu Avsar. Having the image of each recipe is a priceless aid, so you know how the final product should look like. They also give you an idea on how to serve the appetizers or drinks; what platters, bowls, plates, glassware etc., you should use.

Martha should add a warning that the objects in the photographs are not as real as they appear! The photographs are so visually enthralling that you want to grab the appetizers from the photographs and eat them.

If you’re looking for recipes and ideas that will help you get through casual get-togethers with friends or special celebrations, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for ideas of what you can whip up for you and/or your husband or wife after a hard day’s work, this is the book for you. If you’re planning an evening with your favorite book, TV show, movie, etc., this is the book for you. If you don’t have a specific excuse and just want to delight yourself with “bites of pure enjoyment”, Martha Stewart’s Appetizers is the book for you.

I received a free copy of this book from BloggingforBooksin exchange for a review. I was not financially compensated. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links as stated in my disclosure policy

Spy of Richmond is Jocelyn Green’s fourth and final book in her Heroines Behind the Lines Series. Even though this book is the conclusion to a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. It is a well-rounded and complete story that keeps you turning pages until the end.

Spy of Richmond is a wonderful piece of historical Christian fiction. Once again, the book’s synopsis gives the reader absolutely no clue that this book has religious messages. Having read it, I can say that yes, there are Scripture references throughout the book, especially towards the end (too many for my taste), but you are already too invested in the story that you need to keep on reading in order to know the conclusion of this voyage back to life in the Richmond of the 1860s.

Spy of Richmond is a story that has a wide array of characters that are all relevant to the story; each person plays an important role. There are three main story lines, headed by Sophie, Bella and Harrison, which are fabulously intertwined to create an entertaining narrative.

Spy of Richmond is a well-researched book about the Civil War. It is not a stereotypical story about slaves being abused and forced to work or about Southern belles who live their lives oblivious to the racial issues happening. This is a fantastic story about people who regardless of their social status, the color of their skin or if they came from the North or South, work together to fight for what they believe is the right thing to do. It was very interesting to read about the brave risks taken especially by women in a time where they were thought of as decorative, weak and brainless figures of society.

My favorite part was the History behind the Story section, where the author describes what parts of the story were fictional and what parts were based on real historical events of the time. There’s also a list of select books that can serve as resources for those interested in doing more research on the historical facts portrayed in the book.

If you’re looking for a book that will help you learn things about the Civil War they didn’t teach you in school (or you didn’t pay enough attention to), this is the book for you. If you’re into historical Christian fiction, this is definitely your cup of Joe. Book clubs should consider adding this one to their reading lists. The discussion guide included touches a wide array of subjects, not only historical or religious, that could lead to interesting analyses and conversations.

If you’re looking for a story about survival while doing the right thing, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a captivating story that takes you back to the real difficult events that led brave men and women in the US to freedom, this is the book for you. If you’re looking for a book that will make you think about what freedom means to you, this is the book for you.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

I received an Electronic copy of this book but was not financially compensated in any way nor obliged to review. The opinions expressed are my own and are based on my personal experience while reading it. This post contains affiliate links